Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-03-31
Our Columbus Letter.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent.)
COLUMBUS, o., March 29th, 1887.
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The 9th General Assembly has adjourned
sine die, and its members will soon be before
their constituents, to give an account of their
stewardship. The Democratic members can
face theirs without any timedity, they having
been true and faithful, not only to them, but
also to the great Democratic party, of which
they are true, faithful and honored members.
Such a Legislature as the one which ad-
journed sine die on the 21st, has never before
been seen at the Capitol of Ohio. We mean
its majority, the Democratic portion being
the exception, as there are always exceptions
to all general rules-within the recollection
of the Oldest inhabitant of Columbus, and it
is to be hoped its like may never be seen
again, acting as Legislators for the third
State in the Union. Why it was different
from all of its predecessors can be explained
in the following manner: When it met the
Republicans had a small majority in the
House, and the Democrats in the Senate
Orders were given at the opening of the
session that the House must be made largely
Republican speedily, and the Senate to be
made the same way as soon as it could be
done. To bring about the increased Repub-
lican majority in the House, the Speaker
appointed on the committee on Elections five
of as unscrupulous Republican politicians as
could be found in any legislative body, and
two Democrats. The Republican members
we're given their orders by John Sherman's
paid attorney lobbyists-Ed. Noyes and
Warner Bateham, and told that their busi-
ness would be to make formal trip to Gin
cinnati and present report which said
lobbyists had previously prepared, that nine
of the Republican candidates had been elect
ed in Hamilton county the fall before, and
one Democrat as Representative from that
county, and when they presented the report
to demand the previous question, and after
the nine Republicans had been seated, and
the nine Democrats ousted, and John Sher-
man elected U. S. Senator, then they could
90 back to Cincinnati and investigate whether
they had been elected. Poorman, Cameron,
Brumbach, Lampson and Linduff, the Re-
publican members of the committee, were
found to be willing tools of Noyes and Bate
ham, and did everything they commanded
them to do. The colored element kicked
because their candidate had not been declar-
ed elected. To satisfy them, later in the
session, report was handed to the COM
mittee for them to report that Harlan was
elected. They obeyed orders and he was
admitted. In that way the Republican ma
jority was made large enough for all practi-
cal purposes. By the treachery of Clerk
Vallandingham and the arbitrary rulings of
Bob. Kennedy, the Senate was made Repub-
lican, and that party was happy.
During the first session everything was in
turmoil, and bitterness was the order of
the day in both branches. During this
winter the House became somewhat recon-
ciled, but in the Senate bitterness was every
where to be seen, and the session wound up
with Democrats protesting against arbitrary
rulings, and opposing vote of thanks to
Bob. Kennedy.
During more than half of the present ses-
sion lobbyists were never as thick and got
more work done than they did this winter.
There was perhaps not as many open 'bars"
as at some other sessions, but there was more
quiet persuasion" used and it accomplished
+ its desired end.
The Speaker did more work in behalf of him
self than any other fifty members. He was
only foiled in one job-giving leasing or
selling some three acres of valuable land in
Chillicothe, belonging to the State. He had
the assistance in that job of Dan. Ryan, the
Chairman of the Canal Committee, but he
was thwarted through the efforts of Geyer,
johnson and others, Notwithstanding he was
assisted by every member he made chairman
of a committee.
One of the boasts the Republican majority
make is, is that the present was short ses-
sion. Why was it made a short one? Be-
cause no railroad passes could be secured
after the first of April, and the last session
was long one, and the members lost money
as most of them then boarded at respectable
hotels. This winter the Republican MAORI
ty determined to get some of their money
back, and to do so, they boarded at cheap
restaurants and adjourned early. Members
of the Legislature receive 5000 per annum,
let the session be long or short.
The Democratic members of both branch
es were faithful and attentive to their duties,
and deserve well of their constituents. Some
of them would return for third term if they
desired to, but it is not probable that any
who have served two terms will again return
as it is kind of general rule that few if any
members serve longer than two terms in suc-
cession. OF those Democratic members who
have served only one term, we think it is
probable the following will be reelected if
they desire, and we hope they may as they
deserve to be: Senators-Curtis, of Tuscara-
was; Groschner, of Henry; Lawrence, of
Gurensy; Lindsay, of Brown; Mehaffy, of
Allen and Zimmerman, of Sandusky. Rep
resentatives-Ankeny, of Tuscawas: Arrnor,
of Holmes; Baughman. Of Wayne; Bockmer,
Putnam; Braddock, of Knox; Howard, of
Richland, Hubbard,of Seneca; LIE Blond, of
Mercer; McCray, of Ashland, McKeeyer. of
Clermont; Shaw, of Auglaize; Smalley, of
Wyandot; Vinnedge, of Butler. Some who
have served two terms in the House may be
elected to the Senate-among them Mcbride
of Stark-who we hope will be, as he would
be great improvement on the present polit-
ical thing that now misrepresents them
Conrad, of Stark.
Some good acts were passed at the present